(no subject)

[unicornduke]

butchering talk below



So the deer is done. It took me an hour to skin and quarter it, which was a big improvement in time over last time and I hardly needed my instruction list.

I have realized a minor issue, and that is that I'm relatively short. This buck was much bigger than the last one and we got it hung six inches higher than previous and they both nearly touched the ground. So I had to stand on a milk crate in order to reach the hind legs.

I also have to literally hug the hindquarters because I can't balance them in one hand and cut them lose and then remove the lower legs. It's pretty absurd to be honest. Dad was running to pick up straw so no help around.

There was no time improvement in cutting the meat from the bone and cutting it into pieces. It took me around 3 hours again. This whole deer is for ground meat and so I tried to hurry through the processing because it doesn't matter what the cuts look like as long as most of the fat and sinew are off. I also tried to hurry through it because I was doing it in the unheated garage and it's kinda chilly. I wasn't in the wind at least. My back is sore because I was looking down the whole time.

Grinding went really fast.

Comments

[unicornduke]

Thank you so much for this information! It's really neat to see all the intricacies. I'll admit, I haven't really looked into it too hard because I find lots of prepper sites and things like that and I don't like it much.

I've got to sit and think about this, which I've got time now since I don't plan to get a deer until next year. My dad keeps joking about rabbits and squirrels next but I don't think that will happen. I mostly just don't want to deal with either immediately processing the deer or trying to find some way to cool it so no summer hunting haha

I know for sure, a hand held sharpening because I end up in different places. I'm waiting to buy anything else as well since I had to replace my windshield two weeks ago and thus, trying to save money right now.

But thank you for the details!

[graydon]

Urk! windshield. Hopefully random road gravel and nothing traumatic.

I find sharpening relaxing and meditative; I shall hope you find it so, too.

And, really, if you're thinking about next fall, no rush whatsoever.

There are some relatively sane knife enthusiasts out there, even on Youtube, but one thing that's important to remember is there really isn't one right way to do it. There's one correct result -- you took the least steel off to get the edge you wanted and it didn't take longer than you had -- but lots and lots of ways to get there.

Otherwise, it's your common-or-garden start-slow turn-the-bits-to-reflexes manual skill. Like anything else involving sharp things, never get in a hurry and it'll be fine.

[unicornduke]

A rock kicked up from a tractor trailer while I was going 70mph. It was spreading quick so I got it fixed ASAP.

I think sharpening will fall into a necessary skill. It's good to know!

[graydon]

Nasty oversized gravel. Boo.

Fixed right away is the right thing to do with cracked glass! Hope the wallet-pain is soon repaired, too. :)